PANJIM: As farmlands in the coastal belt shrink, upmarket nightclubs continue to ruin the lives of farmers on this stretch where tourism dominates all other sectors. If this was not enough, a large chunk of nightclubs in the northern coastal belt are run by foreign nationals by misusing their tourist visas.
As the world ushered in the New Year, the illegally-set up commercial hubs hosted massive events right under the nose of local authorities. In fact parties were lined up from December 21, 2015 with each nightclub generating nothing less than Rs 10-15 lakh on a daily basis.
Sources told Herald that as many as 80 late night parties, scheduled from December 21, 2015 till January 3, 2016 will lead to a loss of Rs 500 crore to the State government.
“The party clubs are situated on agricultural land, and this is the first violation followed by absence of building permission, excise license, entertainment license and other local charges,” said a club operator seeking anonymity.
The properties are easily sold and leased out to foreigners on tourist visas. Government’s lethargy to fix this problem is also understood by the fact that they also avoid paying related taxes to the government but are still let off the hook.
“There was a trend till the recent past that a foreign national could buy a property with the help of an Indian partner. But in the present scenario, the foreigners are direct buyers and sole owners of properties. How can government allow rampant illegality and corruption, especially when the foreign buyers are not equipped with valid documents,” questioned a Vagator-based club owner.
Nuvem MLA Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco, who has often raised the issue in the House has alleged the involvement of some MLAs. “The illegal operations have blessings of some MLAs. The government has also given a cold shoulder to several complaints,” he alleged.
The illegality is not only evident during the peak tourist season but through the year with at least four large scale events held every month. “There is no fear of the law. Such parties are held in the illegally-set up commercial institutions,” he said quoting names of a few popular hubs in the northern coastal belt.
These parties, some allege are laced with drugs as a cocktail of narcotics are openly sold. Another proprietor of a reputed club on the Calangute-Candolim belt, on condition of anonymity alleged the offences in 2015 were on a greater scale compared to the preceding year.
“The law abiders pay the price (quite literally), while those who find an easy way out have the last laugh. If the authorities do a serious check, the number of party venues that are flouting the laws – be it by not paying the taxes or the having the required licenses – on this stretch alone, is alarming,” he said.
Another Chapora-based club owner said, “We have to pay the price of not only being a non-Goan but also of following the laws. Surprisingly, where you come from, is an important factor if you have to run a business in Goa. While there are a lot of non-Goans who flout the laws here, there are a lot of locals who are involved too.”
Calangute local Shawn Martins said, “There are some places opened by foreign nationals around the coastal belt but it’s very difficult to prove that they are running it as they often partner with locals. Nonetheless this hampers the local businessmen who pay all taxes and various license fees.”
